Episode 4: Malcolm Guite

Call It Good

From host Matt Conner:

"We can't venture very far into our exploration of Genesis 1 without contending with the form in which it's been given to us. The creation narrative isn't something to analyze and apply like a textbook. Instead, there's cadence and meter, there's rhythm, repetition. It's a poem after all.

It was clear to me fairly early on that I wanted to discuss the creation narrative—imbued as it is with themes of creating in the image of a Creator, rest and reflection, and participating in the Spirit-led recreation of all things—with someone who could approach it for the poem that it is. And I knew of no one better suited for that task than Malcolm Guite.

To be quite honest, I was very nervous to sit down with Malcolm, although that's not anything to do with his own posture. Rather, as a man so well versed in poetry and literature, a captivating author and speaker, I knew all my insecurities would rise to the surface. And then the idea of having those permanently imprinted on a podcast episode just made me feel a little ill. However, I also knew he would be the perfect interview subject to carry us further, to help illuminate the action of calling it good.

Talking to Malcolm about Genesis 1 turned out to be like drinking from a firehose. Even in our pre-interview banner before we started recording, he was quoting off the top of his head Shakespeare, Keats, Wendell Berry, and George Herbert.

Malcolm is a poet and priest, author, and chaplain of Girton College at the University of Cambridge. He's written several books on theology and the arts and several more of his own poetry anthologies. In short, we needed a poet to appreciate the poem. And that's exactly what you'll find on this episode with the wonderful Malcolm Guite."

Audio engineering & theme music by Asher Peterson. Find transcripts for Call It Good at RabbitRoom.com/podcast.

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